A diverse panel covered the topic of cover crops at the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo this week, exploring how the practice is starting to hit the mainstream. David Pearl with the CISCO Companies in Indianapolis, who serves as chair of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Cover Crops Working Group, says this was the first full cover crops …
#ASTACSS Economic Outlook from Dan Basse
Back by popular demand for the fifth year, AgResource Company president Dan Basse presented his economic outlook for agriculture at the opening general session of the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo on Tuesday. In his fact-filled 90 minute presentation, Basse talked about a “world awash in grain” with record global wheat and soybean crops and second largest corn crop. …
Welcome to #ASTACSS and Seed Expo
Seed industry representatives from around the globe are gathered in the Windy City this week for the 70th Corn and Sorghum Seed Research Conference, 45th Soybean Seed Research Conference, and Seed Expo 2015 – better known at CSS 2015 and Seed Expo. “It’s in Chicago and it’s at the end of harvest, so all the seed companies get a chance …
Pirkle Receives #ARA2015 Distinguished Service Award
The Agricultural Retailers Association presented its 2015 Distinguished Service Award to Billy Pirkle, who has served as chairman of ResponsibleAg, an industry initiative which kicked off last year at this time. The organization assists fertilizer facilities with federal regulatory compliance through education, training and certification. “Agricultural retailers are already committed to stewardship and safety,” said Pirkle, who is Senior Director …
California FFA Welcomes #ARA2015
The president of the California FFA Southern Region addressed members of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) meeting in Palm Desert, California last week, on behalf of the 79,000 FFA members in the state. “The FFA is giving its members the skills needed to build health communities, a strong nation, and a sustainable world,” said Samuel Looper as he welcomed ARA …
Iowa Corn Gets Bio Process Patent
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) has gotten a patent application accepted for a production method using corn in the industrial manufacturing of a raw material called monoethylene glycol (MEG). “Patenting this research will lead to advances in the production processes for corn-based bio-MEG eliminating the need for the petroleum ethylene derivatives currently used and creating demand for Iowa corn,” …
California FB President Addresses ARA
The president of the California Farm Bureau Federation welcomed members of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to his state this week for their annual meeting. Wenger talked about the importance of the agricultural industry in the United States and his home state. “As we see that today (farmers) are less than two percent of the population and in California farmers …
The Andersons Named ARA Retailer of the Year
The Agricultural Retailers Association this week named The Andersons as Retailer of the Year for 2015. The award was accepted by Joe Hodges, Vice President of the Southern Region Plant Nutrient Group, during the ARA Conference and Expo. “On behalf of all the employees of The Andersons – thank you for this special recognition,” Hodges said. “It’s extra special when …
ARA Lifetime Achievement Award to Gearheard
The Agricultural Retailers Association this week presented this year’s Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Gearheard, former President and CEO of Agrium Retail. Gearheard served as Senior Vice President of Agrium, Inc. and President of the Retail Division from August 1996 until his retirement in April 2014. He also worked in various capacities with other Agrium retail companies such …
November Best Month Ever for MGEX
November 2015 was the biggest volume month in history for MGEX, with a total volume of 272,202. This surpassed the previous record set in August by more than 6,000 and is a 39 percent increase from November 2014. This marks the fifth time this year MGEX has reported a monthly volume greater than 200,000, doing so for the first time …